Maryland Route 159 (MD 159) is a state highway located in Harford County in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Perryman Road, the state highway runs 4.73 miles (7.61 km) from a dead end at the Bush River near Perryman north to U.S. Route 40 (US 40) and MD 7 in Aberdeen. The northernmost part of MD 159 was constructed in the early 1920s and became the original alignment of US 40. The Perryman Road portion of MD 159 was constructed in the late 1920s and early 1930s. MD 159 was extended west along what was MD 7 to US 40 in 1950.

Maryland Route 159 marker

Maryland Route 159

Map
Maryland Route 159 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDSHA
Length4.73 mi[1] (7.61 km)
Existed1928–present
Major junctions
South endDead end at Bush River near Perryman
North end US 40 / MD 7 in Aberdeen
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMaryland
CountiesHarford
Highway system
MD 158 MD 161

Route description edit

 
View north along MD 159 near Aberdeen

MD 159 begins at a dead end at the Bush River. The state highway heads northeast as Perryman Road, a two-lane undivided road that closely parallels Amtrak's Northeast Corridor railroad line, which also serves MARC's Penn Line. MD 159 serves the Perryman Peninsula, an area of land between the Bush River estuary and Aberdeen Proving Ground. A small portion of this area is on the south side of the railroad and is accessed via Chelsea Road, at which northbound MD 159 has a stop sign in the village of Perryman, where the highway veers away from the Amtrak line and passes St. George's Parish Vestry House. North of Perryman, the state highway passes several distribution centers before reaching Old Philadelphia Road at a roundabout, onto which MD 159 turns west. The state highway crosses over Cranberry Run and passes the Griffith House and a trailer park before reaching its northern terminus at an oblique intersection with US 40 (Philadelphia Boulevard) just south of the city limits of Aberdeen. Old Philadelphia Road continues west as MD 7 toward Riverside.[1][2]

History edit

 
View north along MD 159 near its southern terminus near Perryman

The Old Philadelphia Road portion of MD 159 is part of the original alignment of US 40.[3] The section that MD 159 now follows was constructed of concrete around 1923.[4] After US 40 was moved to the newly completed Philadelphia Boulevard (part of Pulaski Highway) in 1937, Old Philadelphia Road became part of MD 7.[5][6] Perryman Road was reconstructed as a concrete state highway from US 40 to Chelsea Road in Perryman in 1928.[7] MD 159 was completed to Bush River by 1933 in two sections: a macadam segment from Chelsea Road to Canning House Road and a gravel segment to the road's end.[8] The gravel section was upgraded to a more modern surface in 1950. Also in 1950, MD 7 was truncated at US 40; MD 159 was extended west to US 40 from the old MD 7–MD 159 intersection.[9]

Future edit

There are plans, currently on hold due to lack of funding, to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Perryman Road and Old Philadelphia Road.[10] Once the roundabout and other minor improvements to the state highway are completed, MD 159 will be removed from the state highway system and transferred to county maintenance.[11]

Junction list edit

The entire route is in Harford County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Perryman0.000.00Dead end at Bush RiverSouthern terminus
Aberdeen4.397.07Old Philadelphia Road northRoundabout; MD 159 turns west onto Old Philadelphia Road
4.737.61  
 
US 40 (Pulaski Highway) / MD 7 west (Old Philadelphia Road) – Havre de Grace, Edgewood, Riverside
Northern terminus; eastern terminus of MD 7
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary route edit

MD 159A is the designation for an unnamed 0.05-mile (0.080 km) spur north from MD 159 just south of its intersection with Chelsea Road in Perryman.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 2013). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  2. ^ Google (2011-03-03). "Maryland Route 159" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  3. ^ Maryland Geological Survey (1927). Map of Maryland: Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  4. ^ Maryland Geological Survey (1923). Map of Maryland: Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  5. ^ Maryland State Roads Commission (1936). Map of Maryland Showing State Road System (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  6. ^ Maryland State Roads Commission (1939). General Highway Map: State of Maryland (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  7. ^ Maryland Geological Survey (1928). Map of Maryland: Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  8. ^ Maryland Geological Survey (1933). Map of Maryland Showing State Road System: State Aid Roads and Improved County Road Connections (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  9. ^ Maryland State Roads Commission (1950). Maryland: Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  10. ^ "Project Information: MD 0159 PERRYMAN ROAD SOUTH OF MD 7 AND US 40". Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  11. ^ "Consolidated Transportation Program" (PDF). FY 2010–2015. Hanover, MD: Maryland Department of Transportation. 2009-12-01: SHA-H-4. Retrieved 2011-03-03. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links edit

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